NEBULA TO MAN 
And to its basin, rivers, streams and rills 
Flow down from east and west and northern hills. 
About its margins piny woods are growing, 
And fern and cycad growths their mantles throwing : 25 
The while upon its clay and sandy bed 
Small leafy growths, allied to sea-weeds, spread. 
Here mussels, snails and countless cockles thrive, 
And Bow-fin-looking ganoids come and live, 
And never failing water-fleas arrive. 30 
Turtles are in and out its shoals and isles, 
And divers long, and short-jawed crocodiles. 
As cemetery it serves for far and near, 
Whither, as hearses, rushing currents bear 
Much gruesome freight ; and on its floor 35 
Are shot the bones of many a dinosaur : 
Of big Iguanodons, that far around 
In upland meads and woods a home had found ; 
And other reptile life, that as it dies, 
May chance to fall within its tributaries. 40 
Here little creatures of the mammal race 
Too find at times a final resting-place. 
Mixed with the sands and clays from rock fronts worn, 
Small stores of iron are being downward borne : 
Stores that in time will mankind grateful glean. 45 
For Celt and Saxon will invade the scene, 
78 
